Detail Itinerary

• 1 Arrival at Paro – Thimphu
  As the plane banks over the mountain slopes, the Paro Valley greet you with luminous paddies rippling in the breeze and tiny houses sprinkled on the bank of the meandering river. The air is crystal clear, light translucent and on horizon, snowcapped mountains frame the idyllic like painting. It does not matter how many times you land in Paro, the bucolic valley unfolds like a dream. If you are lucky, you will have a glorious view of the Snowcapped Himalayas. After visa formalities and collection of baggage, you will meet our representative from Journey To Discover Bhutan.

  Afternoon

  Visit Paro Dzong built in 1646, which houses the administrative center of the Paro district and religious institute for monks. The Paro Dzong may be familiar to people who watched Bertolucci’s film “The Little Buddha” walk down to the coach crossing over the traditional wooden covered bridge called “Nymezampa” which spans over the Paro river.

  Kyichu Lhakhang

  It is one of the two most sacred and the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in 7th century by Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo (the 33rd Tibetan king, who is also the manifestation of avoloketeshivara, commonly known to Bhutanese as Chenrize). The legend tells that a giant demon was terrorizing the whole of Himalayan region, preventing the spread of Buddhism, so to subdue it the king built 108 temples in one day all over the Himalayan region out of which 2 are in Bhutan (Kichu Lhakhang in Paro & Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang). Kyichu Lhakhang was built on her left foot. The temple of Jokhangin Lhasa was built over the very heart of the demoness.

  Overnight at Hotel
• 2 Start of Trek: Paro - Bumdra (Camping)
  Bhutan is a popular trekking destination with several routes yet to be traveled by tourists. We offer a variety of trekking programs offering one of the best ways to enjoy the splendor of Bhutan's natural beauty. Our treks take you through pristine subtropical and temperate forest to alpine pastures with grand views of majestic mountains. A trek also gives you the opportunity to see the countryside and meet ordinary Bhutanese people as you walk through village and settlements.

  The adventure begins with an early morning drive up to the Sang Choekor Buddhist College (2,800m) from where we start our hike to Bumdra Monastery (3,800m).

  The initial 1–2 hour ascent of a ridge, which is steep at times though also in cool shade, brings us to a clearing with prayer flags and view down into both the Paro and Do Chhu valleys. Above and ahead the Chhoe Chhoe Tse Lhakhang (temple) nestles in the mountainside 1-2 hours walk away. The trail undulates for a while before the last steep pull up to the pretty temple which boasts commanding views south over Paro airport and from its own hot stone bath northwards to the snow capped Himalaya.

  After a final 20 minutes climb through ruins and fluttering prayer flags, with a last glance southwards we plunge back into ancient forest traversing for about 40 minutes then come out onto a high wide meadow dotted with sacred prayers flag Our Camp for the night is tucked in under Bumdra Monastery (cave of a thousand prayers) making the most of the awesome views of the Himalayan range. After lunch we can visit the monastery (if it is occupied) and also climb the peak to the north (about 4000m) for even better views, returning in time for a slap up dinner.

  Duration: 3 - 4 hours to camp

  Difficulty: Moderate to Hard

  Overnight: Camping
• 3 Bumdra Expedition
  In this monastery you have a clear view of the cave believed to have 100,000 footprints of Dakanis – Goddess & fairies. After your Lhakang visit climb the nearby ridge for approx 30 minutes for a magnificent view of sacred Mt Jhomolhari (mountain of the Goddess) along with other Himalayan peaks and also the sky burial site, still used today.

  Overnight: Camping.
• 4 Bumdra - Paro - Thimphu
  After breakfast in the jaw dropping landscape, it is time to either head straight back into the valley or linger awhile soaking up the view and perhaps hang some prayer flags of our own. Eventually we have to drop back into the ancient pine and rhododendron forest on the monks’ zig zag trail.

  After 1-2 hours of descent we catch glimpses of the golden roofs of temples below and soon come upon the first of many on our way back from the wilds. The path snakes across the mountainside between the monasteries and temples before reaching the gardens of Sangtopelri (Heaven on Earth) from which you can bravely peer over edge and straight down onto the ornate roofs Taktsang in the cliff far below. An hour later and we are at the gates of Taktsang looking across the gorge a steep descent to a waterfall then ascent on steps and you are passing into the Tiger’s Nest itself. Legend says that Guru Rimpoche, founder of Buddhism flew from Eastern Bhutan on a tigress, bringing Buddhist teachings and meditated here in this cliff. This is one of the most venerated and sacred of all Buddhist sights around the world.

  After visiting the monastery, we will walk down to Taktsang cafeteria for Lunch. After Lunch Walk down to roadside. Their after drive to Thimphu, it will take a 1½ -hour leisurely drive towards the Capital of Bhutan, Thimphu. Passing through hills and some astounding countryside. Thimphu is situated in a large valley traversed by the Wangchuk River and overshadowed by high peaks.

  Enroute you will view Tachogang monastery, “the temple of excellent horse” built by Thangthong Gyalpo (Iron chain builder in Bhutan) before reaching to Chunzom (confluence of Paro – Thimphu River). At the confluence you will see three forms of Chortens in different styles i.e. Nepalese, Tibetan and Bhutanese. We drive following the Thimphu River upwards passing through several villages.

  Evening visit Tashi Chodzong or the fortress of the glorious religion is the seat of government and the headquarters of the clergy in the capital Thimphu. The original dzong was built in 1216. It suffered three major fires over the centuries and was rebuilt three times. It was enlarged in the 1960s to become the symbol of the new capital after Punakha.This dzong housed the original National Assembly of Bhutan in one of its temples. It still houses the secretariat and throne room of the King of Bhutan.

  Overnight Leisure at Hotel
• 5 Thimphu - Punakha
  Drive to Punakha over the Dochu La (3050 m) it is one of the most beautiful drive in Bhutan. On a clear day you will be able to see a spectacular view of the Eastern Himalayas from this pass. The pass is also dotted by many colorfulprayer flags and 108 cortens. Thereafter we descend through the forest of rhododendrons and magnolia. After several stops on the way, you pass the village of Lumitsawa, Thinleygang and reach the fertile valley of Lobesa. Enroute you will have a view Chimi Lhakhang, the “Temple of Fertility,” built in 15th century by Lama Drukpa Kuenley also popularly known as “Devine Mad Man”

  Afternoon:

  Drive to visit Punakha Dzong, This dzong is one of the most beautiful and architecturally impressive Dzong in the country. It is ideally located between two rivers Pho Chu “Male River” and Mo Chu “Female River”. It was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngwang Namgyel and it has served as the seats of the Government till 1953. The construction of the Dzong was foretold by Guru Rimpoche, Who predicted “a person named Namgyel will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant”. At the time there was a smaller Dzong “ Dzong Chung” that house a statute of Buddha. It has said that Shabdrung ordered the architect, Zowe Palep, to sleep in from of the statue. While Palep was sleeping in front the statue; the Shadrung took him in his dreams to Zangtopelri and showed him the palace of Guru Rimpoche. From this vision, the architect conceived the design for the new Dzong, which in keeping with the tradition, was never committed to paper. The Dzong was named Druk Pungthang Dechen Phodrang, “Palace of Great Happiness.” Punakha is still the winter residence of Je-Khenpo (Chief Abbot”) and central monk body.

  Take time to admire the impressive, colourful and detailed artistry of the surrounding, including the huge statues of Buddha, Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdunf Nawany Namgyel.

  Dinner & overnight at Hotel
• 6 Punakha - Thimphu - Paro
  With Early Breakfast drive back to Thimphu via dochula and visit follow place of interest in Thimphu

  The Memorial Chorten:

  With its golden spines shining in the sun, its tinkling bells built in honour of third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The inside paintings and statues provide a very rare insights into Buddhist Philosophy in all its complexity of tantric Buddhism. This Chorten is centrally located and you will see an endless procession of elderly people circling around it.

  The Arts and Craft Institute: This is a vocational training institute where the art of painting, woodcraft and sculpturing are taught to students with the objective of preserving the rich and pristine heritage.

  Kuengzang Phordang: it's one of the largest Buddha statues in the world and houses an astonishing 125,000 smaller figures inside.

  Post Office : To make your personal stamp.

  Late Afternoon: Drive to Paro.

  Evening leisure at Hotel
• 7 Departure
  Morning: Drive to Paro Airport for your onward flight